Hair Dryer Sleeve Accessory Used for Heat Protection

ABSTRACT

A removable hair dryer sleeve accessory to surround the barrel or blowing nozzle of a hair dryer to protect they user from extremely high temperatures. The sleeve portion fits snugly to the barrel or blowing nozzle of a hair dryer. The sleeve is made from a single material and the material is a heat resistant material. The sleeve is flexible.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 15/341,653 (Vinson), filed Nov. 2, 2016, which claims benefit to U.S. provisional application No. 62/254,408, filed Nov. 12, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full below.

FIELD

The present application relates generally to a removable conical hair dryer sleeve accessory to surround the barrel or blowing nozzle of a hair dryer to protect the user from extremely high temperatures.

BACKGROUND

The use of hair dryers is well known in the industry. Professional hairstylists, hair salons, barbers, pet groomers and individuals at home all use these devices. Various hair dryers have an elongated cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle and a grip handle. The hot air created by the motor and heating element is passed through the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle. The cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle becomes heated during the process of hot air passing through it. Due to the extremely high temperature of the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle, it can be uncomfortable to handle this part of the dryer. Many users find it more comfortable to handle a hair dryer using the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle rather than the handle. The user becomes unable to hold the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle due to the extreme heat. It is therefore desirable to provide a heat resistant sleeve that is effective against extremely high temperatures, is flexible, reusable, and easily manufactured. Thus, there exists a need for an accessory to protect the user of hair dryers from extreme heat at the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle area. The present invention satisfies such a need by protecting the hands of not only the professional users such as hairstylists and barbers, but for pet groomers and individual consumers from extreme heat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair dryer with a silicone heat resistant sleeve installed over the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of a silicone sleeve, showing the installation of the sleeve to a hair dryer.

FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of the inside of a typical hair dryer showing the heating element of the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of a hairstylists holding the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle to blow dry a client's hair and partial side view of a silicone sleeve.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of a smooth finish silicone sleeve, showing the installation of the sleeve to a hair dryer.

Before the present invention is further described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular embodiments described, as such may of course vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one skilled in the art to which the invention belongs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to said figures, a hair dryer is indicated overall by FIG. 1 and comprises a casing with a handgrip 7 and a cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle 5. The hair dryer comprises known means, not shown, for generating said air flow 4.

On at least one portion, for example the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle 5, there is an accessory 10 (FIG. 2) for protecting the user from extreme heat. By way of example, the accessory 10 can be placed on the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle 5 and when the user holds 14 the hair dryer using the barrel 5 (FIG. 4), the silicone sleeve 10 will protect the user from extreme heat. Any hair dryer may be contained within a protective sleeve (FIG. 5).

The invention is constructed of a flexible material able to withstand twisting and bending and resistant to high temperature. For example, this material can be a silicone rubber or synthetic rubber obtained from equivalent materials.

In certain embodiments, the body of the sleeve 10 may be smooth 10 b and/or ribbed 10 a. Specifically, the smooth 10 b and/or ribbed 10 a surface element may not only serve the purpose of enhancing gripping but may also be used to communicate one or more meaning to a user. For instance, the surface may be configured to communicate a word or phrase such as a brand name or marketing slogan, or may be a contoured image and/or shape.

In this manner, if using the hair dryer as shown in FIG. 4, the accessory 10 will protect the user 14 from the high heat being produced by the heating element 3 inside the barrel or nozzle 5.

The present invention is useful in numerous industries, as well as for consumers. A nonexclusive list of industries in which the removable sleeve 10 would be useful includes professional hairstylists, hair salons, and barbers, but also for pet groomers and consumers.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 

1. A removable cover for heat protection on hair dryers, the cover comprising: a molded, removable protective sleeve comprising flexible side walls, a front opening and a rear opening; wherein said front and rear openings have a diameter operable to fit around a barrel of a hair dryer, and said sleeve is operable to receive said barrel; wherein said side walls cover a portion of said barrel when said barrel is inserted inside of said sleeve; and wherein said side walls comprise a material operable to insulate a user's hand from heat generated by said hair dryer.
 2. The removable cover for heat protection on hair dryers of claim 1, wherein the material of said sleeve comprises silicone.
 3. The removable cover for heat protection on hair dryers of claim 1, wherein said heat resistant material resists heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
 4. The removable cover for heat protection on hair dryers of claim 1, wherein said removable sleeve is conical in shape.
 5. The cover for heat protection on hair dryers of claim 1, wherein said front opening has a first diameter before said sleeve receives said barrel, and a second diameter after said sleeve receives said barrel, wherein said first diameter is smaller than said second diameter, and wherein said first opening is operable to alternate between said first and second diameters as said barrel is received by or removed from said sleeve.
 6. The removable cover for heat protection on hair dryers of claim 1, wherein said removable sleeve is configured to have smooth and/or ribbed surfaces. 